American Sentinel University Counters the Runaway Cost of College by Offering a Superior Tuition Value
Accredited online university uses technology and innovative business processes to keep rates low for students.
January 18, 2007; Englewood, Colorado – Countering a national trend to raise college tuition by double-digit rates, American Sentinel University is continuing to offer some of the lowest tuition rates in the U.S. for both individual courses and full degree programs. This solidifies American Sentinel University’s position as the best value available in the online education marketplace. The favorable cost structure means that students who want a quality education from an accredited online university can be assured of a rapid return on their learning investment.
According to the College Board, public universities across the U.S. raised tuition at a rate between 4 percent and 22 percent for the 2006-7 academic year. Students are now paying an average of $12,796 per year to attend a public university and $30,367 per year to attend a private one.
At American Sentinel University, students enrolled in an undergraduate program pay just $250 per credit hour and very minimal fees. Students enrolled in a Master’s degree program pay only $310 to $385 per credit hour.
Mary Adams, President of American Sentinel University, stresses that the goal is to provide “the best for less,” with a quality education that won’t put students in debt for the next decade. “We want to prepare students for today’s highly competitive workplace, in a manner where they can quickly see the return on their investment” Adams says. “We use the latest technologies to keep costs down and allow students to increase their skills and credentials in a more affordable manner than they could at a traditional college.”
According to figures from the College Board, tuition increases at both private and public colleges and universities have far outpaced other goods and services, rising roughly four times the rate of inflation in the past two decades. With program costs hitting a maximum of only $30,000 for a full credit load bachelor’s degree and a maximum of $13,000 for a master’s degree, American Sentinel University is priced dramatically below both traditional campus universities and distance learning programs, despite a high-level faculty with extensive experience.
Figure 1: Bachelor’s Degree Online Pricing
In an Online Education Pricing Survey released by Lehman Brothers, the cost for a bachelor’s degree in their sampling of online degree programs ranged from $37,000 to $75,000. At only $30,000 for a full 120-credit load (with no transfer credits), American Sentinel University’s tuition is substantially less than the lowest point on this chart and is half the cost of the largest institution, University of Phoenix.
Figure 2: Master’s Degree Online Pricing
For a master’s degree, Lehman’s sampling ranged from a cost of $17,222 to $32,240. In contrast, under American Sentinel’s tuition levels, total cost for a master’s degree is $11,160.
Figure 3: Total Tuition for Degree, By School and Degree Type
For an MBA degree, Lehman’s sampling ranged from $18,960 to $32,240. Again, at $13,860, American Sentinel’s total tuition for an accredited MBA degree is substantially lower than any other program and is less than half that of the largest universities.
American Sentinel University is accredited by the U.S. Secretary of Education-recognized Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council. DETC, the premier global accrediting association for distance learning institutions, is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Founded as a Vanderbilt University Technology Company, American Sentinel University is an accredited institution that delivers to its students and their employers the competitive advantages of unique online education programs focused on the needs of high-growth sectors.
